The Kogi State Government says following the direct loss of about N50billion and over N20billion collateral loss it recorded in 2012, it is working hard to ensure that the State does not witness another re-occurrence.
Yomi Awoniyi, State Deputy Governor and Chairman Flood Management Committee made the remarks when he spoke of the on-going preparedness by government to ensure that lives and properties are protected in the event of another flood.
Awoniyi disclosed that the Flood Management Committee is constantly meeting to review the flood situation, adding that risk analysis has been conducted on the water level, assured that for now there was no need for panic.
The State government, Awoniyi added, is equally in touch with NIMET, NEMA and all the Dam operators to further evaluate the risks, equally assured that the State is for now, not under threat.
The Deputy Governor added that the State government has intensified its campaign for people living in flood-prone areas of its nine Local Government Areas to be at alert, assured however that the State Government Housing Estate is now ready for allocation and that other places have been identified as camp sites in the event of a flood, parts of the infrastructure measures government has put in place.
Similarly, the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Awoniyi disclosed, has been presented a proposal on the allocation of the already completed Flood Housing Estate, and said all the plans put in place in 2013 on where to house displaced people, even though the flood never came, the infrastructures he added, are all in place to be used in the event of any flood this year.
While noting that several warnings have been issued to those living in flood prone areas to relocate, the issue, Awoniyi maintained, requires a lot of tact and persuasion, as some of those affected are already attached to their places of abode.
He however, appealed to those living in such areas to relocate as the devastating effect of 2012 flood have served as points of conviction of the harmful consequences of living in such flood-prone areas. He added that government will in the future have no choice but to pull down such buildings and legislate on living in such areas.
